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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. MCLEAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ABDOMINAL CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 26,039, dated November 8, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. MCLEAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain novel and useful Improvements in the Construction of Abdominal Corsets or Bandages; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are lettered to correspond with the specification and to form a part thereof.

In order that the public may fully understand the nature of my invention, and those skilled in the art of manufacture, be enabled to construct the same, I will describe it as follows:

Figure 1 represents a top View of a single cork or some other flexible pad, which is neatly cushioned before being stitched, to the lower part of the corset or bandage; at any desired point, where the pressure is required as at (A,) Fig. 4.

ig. 2, is a perspective view of the double cork pad or its equivalent, (A and A2) which is provided with a spring of any convenient form. The spring aforesaid, is placed between the upper section of the pad (A2,) and lower section (A,) in such a manner as to force the two sections apart, in proportion as the corset is tightened or loosened, at the back lacings and hip straps (S.) This double spring pad is better adapted to support the abdomen in all falling diseases, or truss purposes, than any other pad ever worn, as it is comfortable to the wearer, yields easily to any outward pressure, without producing the least jar or sensation to the body, which is not the case with any other abdominal or truss pad now in use; the cork (A) being next the body, absorbs the moisture therefrom, without injuring the pad, which is not the case with the metallic plates in common use; besides, a light flexible material is much better adapted for ease and comfort, when brought in contact with the human body, than metal of any kind.

Fig. 3, is a perspective back view of the corset, showing the connection of the shoulder braces or back stays (C, 0,) cork brackets or projections (B, 13,) hip straps (S) and bandage lacings (L,).

Fig. 4, is a perspective front view, exhibiting the pad cases, bandage, and cork brackets or projections (B, B, B,) arranged in such a manner, around the belt or middle section of a corset, so that any string or belt of the outer dress being tied around the waist above the corks, would be prevented from falling down, and the belt or strings thereof thrown into, instead of out from the body, as is the case with all skirt supporting apparatus now in common use. Letters (A, A', A2, A2,) are the abdominal spring pads, firmly secured to the lower part of the corset or bandage; (S, S,) are two straps employed to assist the back lacings, when a li/vjlypessure is required on the pads Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are perspective drawings of )the cork brackets or projections (B, B, B

Figs. 8 and 10 represent a cork bustle provided with a whalebone rib (P, P,) to prevent its breaking, when secured to the back of the corset 4or otherwise. All the cork pads are lined or covered on the flat side, with a thin stratum of white holly, or other light wood, for the purpose of strengthening the same. The superiority of the above-described cork apparatus for supporting the outer garments or dress; also the use of cork or its equivalent in lieu of metallic spring pads, for abdominal purposes, or other applications of similar character (the whole forming a part of a corset, belt or bandage) is first, that it does away with steel for such uses and better effects the same purpose, by the application of a light flexible material, in every way comfortable to the wearer, independent of its buoyant properties (in case of falling into the water) 'and its tendency to absorb the moisture from the body, thereby acting as a healthful and comfortable agent to those who may be afflicted with falling diseases.

10 the corset or bandage, and are held in their places by the same, in the manner and for the purpose set forth and shown in the drawings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name in the presence of two witnesses.

p A JAMES P. MGLEAN. Witnesses:

DAVID CROWTHER, BENJAMIN FIELD. 

